Ok, well I think I caught the guys at Irvine Mini on a bad day or something because I walked in and much to my surprise, nobody jumped all over me trying to make a sale. In fact, I didn't even think these guys were excited about making a sale at all. There were 3 people sitting around and not a single one got up to greet me. I asked if they had any MCS's. They said they had one. When I asked to see it, they said it was in the back getting a new audio system put in. In fact, they didn't have but 5 cars on the lot.

When I wanted to look at the others, I walked outside and the girl helping me didn't want to take the time to look at the one I wanted to see because she said all the cars were locked, but there was an open one inside. First it was a Cooper and not a Cooper S. Secondly, it was British Green on the outside and Red (yes, I said Red) on the inside. I guess some guy special ordered this and then bought something else altogether. The joke is on Irvine Mini because this is the only car that hasn't moved in a couple month. I guess that's why they wanted me to sit in that one.

I finally asked to see the silver one outside with the sunroof and such. When I asked question about where is the handle for opening the hatch from within, or the hood, the girl hesitated as if she didn't know. In fact, she didn't know. She was only guessing and luckily got it right.

Now I'm not a hard guy to please, but if you're in sales, the first rule is Know Your Product! This girl didn't know their product. They didn't seem eager to help me out and the ballsiest thing she did was told me straight up that they were going to mark up the Cooper S by $2500. I think I'll go to Long Beach or Crevier Mini instead.

D.

 

you know, I just realized that there is a section specifically for this stuff. My apologies for clogging up the forum. I'll put this info in the Dealer Rating System.

D.

 

If you are looking to check out MINI's in SoCal, the only places to go are either Crevier MINI in Santa Ana (www.creviermini.com) or Long Beach MINI (www.longbeachmini.com). MA's at both of those places don't wear ties, which is a plus in my book. The guys at Irvine would rather be selling BMW's IMO

 

It’s funny how some people are willing to fictionalize or dramatize an experience for the sake of drawing attention. I bought my first Cooper from Irvine MINI and have been recently been looking for a Cooper S. I can do nothing but praise the service I have received from this dealership.
I have shopped around understand that the dealership is currently charging a markup, but you know what? It’s only on the ‘S’, it’s substantially less then that at Crevier, and all of the LA dealerships (I know, I’ve checked) and I’m not willing to wait 18 months for an S an Long Beach.
Anyway, none of this addresses the main issue of my posting. The reason I know that this complaint is fraught with exaggeration and hyperbole is that I know exactly who he’s talking about. Her name is Jamie Arnette, and I’m holding her business card as I type. She’s a sweet young girl MORE than willing to help. I have been on two S test drives with her comparing the difference between the sport wheels and the 16 inch wheels. She was entirely knowledgeable, and showed me the car inside and out AND showed me the how the boot unlatches while demonstrating the split fold down seats (despite the fact I already have a Cooper). She even described the cam system to me. The fact that she wouldn’t know how the trunk unlatches is absurd.
Oh well, I guess some people just thrive on attention. Congratulations DConrey you’re a real winner!

 

I bought my MINI at Irvine also and thought the service was good. The salesmen were very nice and knew a lot about the cars. When I was there they had at least 10 MINIs outside and 3 in the showroom, mine was in the showroom so I felt kinda special when we bought it. This was 7 months ago and Ive never been back so I don't know about the service now. My only complaint is that Dave the guy that sold us the car never sent the shirt he said he would, oh well.

Assael MINI in Morovia, now theyre a bunch of idiots. Theyre arrogant and greedy and dont care about you as long as they get your $$$. Their markup was $6000!!! They didnt know crap about the car, unfortunatly I have to go there for service. I was just there about the low coolent level in my MINI and they wouldnt do anything about it! They said "oh its fine you just need to put some water in it"

 

Odd, but I got the opposite treatment, they ignored me @ Irvine for 3 hours, then after leaving the mini lot to go to the BMW lot to go look for someone to help me, I got the same fixed mark-up deal/quote every dealership gave me. sales guy then told me he had to leave and just to continue in the morning. (that though I could understand as it was superbowl the next day) but I needed a car that day. I wasn't even looking to test drive the car. I was looking to buy one before 9pm. I left there and went to ASSAEL, they cut me a deal, no mark-up, in the exact color I wanted, the trim I wanted. I guess it just the luck of the draw which sales person you get and what mood they're in. :???:

 

Geez, Zaslavsky, could you be less friendly?

I bought my Mini at Irvine and I have a very low opinion of the dealership as well. There are some of the sales guys there that are really nice and helpful but overall, I found it to be a bad experience. I've gone to Long Beach Mini for parts and really like them so far. I posted my review of Irvine in the Dealer Rating section:

Irvine Dealer Rating page

 

Zaslavsky seems to be the odd man out here. I went to Irvine and received the same crappy service from the Sales Rep as others have. Not willing to show me cars and not calling me when promised.
I went to Crevier had a very pleasurable experience and paid no more than I would have at Irvine.

 

Zaslavsky,

I spent 10 minutes rebutting your comments, but then realized that I don't need to explain a damn thing to you about this. My experience is my own.

YOU WERE NOT THERE! You cannot possibly make a comment like you did because it is based on your opinion of me, someone you have NEVER met.

Don't be so self-important as to assume that your experiences supercede anything else that happens to others. It just makes you look like an arrogant ***. But that just my opinion.

 

I bought my Cooper from Irvine. The only reason I went there was because the president of my company is friends with the fleet manager there. Needless to say getting a rip roarin' deal has put them quite high on the rating scale for me, but I'm not going to blow smoke rings up their you-know-what's on the account I did still hand over a chunk of $$$. So far I have been quite pleased with the people there (although the BMW side does size up any MINI owner on the spot). The MINI side has been quite friendly and helpful to me at least. I haven't been in quite some time and I was planning on droppin' in to see if they were organizing anything for the opening day of Italian Job. So maybe I will have a different opinion in a few days...

Just my experience...

-Cyn

 

I’m pretty sure my experience DOES override anyone else’s so fraught with hyperbole. But I understand completely—If you don’t use gross exaggeration, no one will bother to listen to story. So don’t worry dconrey you are forgiven. So is Mini_Street_Racer, for claiming to have received a sticker deal at Assael. Best of luck to you two.

 

You are so dillusional, it's scary. Didn't you read any of these messages? Sure, some had a good experience, but a larger portion seemed to have similar issues to mine. Also, if you check the Dealer Rating System, you'll notice that there seems to be a similar recent trend for negative comments in there as well.

It's obvious that you're pretty self-important, and that none of this would register with you, but you should check yourself before you wreck yourself, bud! You just end up sounding pompous and arrogant... and clueless as well.

 

Ivine MINI-- 4 out of 5 stars, nice math dconrey. I suppose thats as crappy as the MINI's 4/5 star crash rating. No but you make a good point... seriously.

 

"Secondly, it was British Green on the outside and Red (yes, I said Red) on the inside."


I'm the one who bought that car. I like the color combination. Of course I am very color blind.

 

And let's not forget Jake, you got a great deal on that car AND got in and out of finance in 20 minutes!